Leon led Alfred along the rocky stream for hours. The buzzing of the combat drones had long since faded in the distance.

"Hold up Leon..." Alfred panted. "I need to catch my breath."

Leon agreed. "Let's take five."

Alfred brushed off a sizable piece of gray slate and sat down. Looking at the murky water Alfred asked, "Do you think this water is drinkable?"

Leon scooped some into his hand and sniffed it. "I wouldn't drink this. It smells like a swamp."

Alfred didn't like complaining but he knew if they didn't find water soon he might not make it.

As if reading his mind Leon said, "But don't worry Pops, we're almost there. I can smell it."

Alfred was curious. "You can smell Woodsburgh?"

Leon smirked and answered, "I smell low tide my friend." Leon opened his arms wide and took in a deep breath. "Smells like decaying fish, dirty sneakers and salty air. Wait... and one more thing..." He took another exaggerated breath. "Is that Nana's signature scent? Could it be her Jean Nate' Body Splash?" Then he splashed some murky water at Alfred.

Alfred pretended to be annoyed but the thought of seeing his first love filled him with hope. He'd get to Marina if he had to crawl on his hands and knees.

Leon noticed Alfred deep in thought. He asked him, "Are you blushing Alphie?"

---

The faceless Captain dumped the second slug out the portal and locked it. He crossed to Ella and peered inside her mouth and thought, "What if there's more? What if they keep coming?"

Ella stirred and mumbled, "Resist... resist... humble... resist..."

Ella had been an expert eavesdropper. When Alfred would teach his granddaughters scriptures (he'd memorized before the purple lights) it both irritated and intrigued her. She knew it was against the law but after her husband's disappearance she hoped there was an all powerful being out there watching over him. At the time she didn't realize Alfred's words were tiny seeds being planted in her rocky soul.

Ella opened her blind eyes and sat up. She looked in the direction of the faceless Captain and said, "Humble yourself... resist the devil and he will flee."

The Captain was shocked. He'd only heard his father talk like this and only in secret followed by many many warnings. He'd never heard scripture spoken so boldly before.

Ella began choking and gagging. Gurgling noises bubbled from her throat. Tears streamed out of her cloudy eyes as black leech-like slugs oozed from her nose, eyes, mouth and ears.

The faceless-captain felt powerless, He pondered Ella's words, "Faith has power."

He knew he couldn't fight the demons physically. There were too many of them and they were coming too quickly. Soon the young women would choke to death.

He remembered a forbidden story his father taught him as a boy, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can say to the mighty oak tree, 'be uprooted and fall into the sea.'"

Will all that he'd endured he believed he possessed at least a mustard-size seed of faith. He faced the woman, held out his right hand and ordered the demon slugs to flee. At the exact moment thousands upon thousands of them regurgitated from the woman's throat. As she projectile vomited the creatures the portal flew open. The slugs morphed into a river of quivering black flies. They flew from the woman's throat, eyes and ears and escaped through the portal.

Ella gasped for breath and said, "Water..."

As the captain helped Ella sip water from a tin cup he asked, ' How did you know, faith has power?"

Ella recognized his voice.

---

Alfred and Leon reached a well warn desire path outside Woodsburgh. It led from the bay inlet into the small beach town. A moldy stained wooden dock, jutted into the bay.

Alfred's joints ached. He eased himself down and sat on the warp boards.

Leon pulled on the older man's arm. "Come on Pops! Where almost there!"

Alfred didn't budge. "Let me catch my breath son. I can't let her—them see me like this." Alfred dipped his hand in the sea water and washed his face. Then he smoothed back his gray hair and buttoned up his tweed jacket and adjusted his cap. For an older man he was very distinguished—some would even say, movie star handsome. With his full gray beard he felt like Sherlock Holmes. Not that anyone remembered who that was anymore.

Leon plopped down next to his new best friend and teased him, "Awwww.... You're trying to look pretty for Nana."

Alfred objected, "I most certainly am not! But there's nothing wrong with trying to look your best." He looked at Leon's smudged face and dirty ripped jeans and added, "You should try it sometime."

Leon admired his own reflection in the bay's still blue-green water. "I still got it!" He used his golden pick to round out his afro. "You think Izzy will approve?"

Alfred smiled at his cocky friend. "I hope Izzy and Bell are here."

Leon put his arm around Alfred and said, "Me too my friend. Me too."

As the pink super moon peeked over the water's horizon, the bay illuminated reds, pinks and oranges like a kaleidoscope. As the men watched the changing colors in awe their momentary peace was disrupted by the sound of dozens of angry hornets.

The drones had found them.

---

X looked up. "Do you hear that?"

Grace and Speed sniffed the air. Bell hung on to Grace's collar and listened intently.

Lonely stood on his hind legs and said, "It sounds like someone upset a beehive."

Bell added, "Those are the angriest bees I've ever heard. Wasps maybe?"

Sarge called in the troops. "Huddle up men, women and beasts. We've got trouble."

Marina stepped closer to the sergeant and whispered in his ear, "What's going on?"

"Ma'am, I don't wanna worry you but we've got incoming..." The sargeant's face grew pale.

Marina remained calm and asked, "What do we do?"

The sargeant whispered, "Is there any place to hide around here?"

Marina shook her head. "Not any more."

X spoke up. "Those are not bees. Bad guys come. We need to go to the docks."

Bell and Grace crossed to X. She felt for him and placed a gentle hand on his massive shoulder. "Why X? If we go to the ocean we'll be sitting ducks.

X replied, "If we stay here we'll be dead ducks."

-End of Chapter 44-

Author's note: I'm soooooo excited! So close to the end. Thanks for sticking with me! Please share, read, vote and comment. We're in the home stretch!! 💕💕💕💕💕💕